The $1.37 million project, estimated to take a year when it began last August, stretched an extra month as a result of delays caused by Superstorm Sandy and unexpected drainage work.

"At about 1 p.m. we opened the roadway and bridge," said Senior Project Observer Gary Wogisch of the engineering and design firm Maser Consulting P.A. of Red Bank.

Although the road and bridge were open, Wogisch said the southeast entrance to the A&P supermarket will remain closed to motorists for an additional week.

"A concrete apron was installed at that location and it needs time to set before trucks and cars can use that entrance," Wogisch said.

In addition, he said, the road still needed to be stripped, grass re-seeded in areas affected by the construction and the paving of an employee parking area owned by neighboring Kuiken Bros. which was used during the bridge replacement project.

Giovanni Cifelli, foreman for Caro Construction Corp. of Florham Park, said its office trailer and fencing still need to be removed from the area.

"We have some clean-up work that should take about a week," he said.

John Araneo, supervising engineer of Highways & Bridges at the Bergen County Department of Public Works, said he conduct his department's final inspection to make sure design specifications were met.

"We have a punch list of items and we go through them one by one to make sure everything was done to specification," Araneo said. "Then the state comes to do the final inspection, which should take place later this month."

He said he has not seen final bills for the bridge replacement project, which was funded by the state, but believes it "stayed within budget."

"There could be a minimal increase for extra drainage work to prevent puddling we did in September on the approaches to the bridge that was not included in the original budget," Araneo said. "That cost may only be about $10,000."

Araneo said the timeline for the project, which began Aug., 26, 2012, was 365 calendar days.

"Superstorm Sandy and the extra drainage work we decided to include into the project caused the short delay," he said. "The public needs to understand the utility work conducted under the bridge is a time-consuming process."

Though detour and road closure signs remained on Goffle Road and Godwin Avenue, motorists soon discovered by happenstance that the bridge was open.

"It has been a nightmare trying to get out of the Midland Park Shopping Center and turning left onto Goffle Road to go home," said Michelle Kurys of Wyckoff. "My daughter goes to Miss Patti's Dance School three times a week and I eventually decided to turn right out of the shopping center and take an alternate route home. It was dangerous to turn left."

Wyckoff resident Carol Francica was excited her evening ritual of picking up her husband five times a week at the Ridgewood train station would be shortened.

"I use the bridge as a shortcut to Ridgewood. For the last year, I needed to budget 20 minutes to get there and tonight it only took me 10 minutes," Francica said.

Midland Park police officials had reported morning and evening rush-hour congestion along Goffle Road and Godwin Avenue, including a pedestrian accident attributed to the closure.

Police Chief Michael Marra said he was "pleased" the bridge replacement project was completed.

However, he cautioned motorists to obey posted speed limits on Lake Avenue.

"Lake Avenue is 35 mph in the borough and once motorists enter Ridgewood, it changes to the village-wide speed limit of 25 mph," he said.

Motorists weren't the only people happy the project was completed.

Carolyn Amoresano was all smiles as she walked her niece's dog on the bridge's sidewalk.

"I have been helping my niece, who lives on Lakeview Drive, for four months and had to cut through the A&P parking lot in order to walk the dog," she ssaid. "I am so happy this bridge is finally open."

The $1.37 million project, estimated to take a year when it began last August, stretched an extra month as a result of delays caused by Superstorm Sandy and unexpected drainage work.

"At about 1 p.m. we opened the roadway and bridge," said Senior Project Observer Gary Wogisch of the engineering and design firm Maser Consulting P.A. of Red Bank.

Although the road and bridge were open, Wogisch said the southeast entrance to the A&P supermarket will remain closed to motorists for an additional week.

"A concrete apron was installed at that location and it needs time to set before trucks and cars can use that entrance," Wogisch said.

In addition, he said, the road still needed to be stripped, grass re-seeded in areas affected by the construction and the paving of an employee parking area owned by neighboring Kuiken Bros. which was used during the bridge replacement project.

Giovanni Cifelli, foreman for Caro Construction Corp. of Florham Park, said its office trailer and fencing still need to be removed from the area.

"We have some clean-up work that should take about a week," he said.

John Araneo, supervising engineer of Highways & Bridges at the Bergen County Department of Public Works, said he conduct his department's final inspection to make sure design specifications were met.

"We have a punch list of items and we go through them one by one to make sure everything was done to specification," Araneo said. "Then the state comes to do the final inspection, which should take place later this month."

He said he has not seen final bills for the bridge replacement project, which was funded by the state, but believes it "stayed within budget."

"There could be a minimal increase for extra drainage work to prevent puddling we did in September on the approaches to the bridge that was not included in the original budget," Araneo said. "That cost may only be about $10,000."

Araneo said the timeline for the project, which began Aug., 26, 2012, was 365 calendar days.

"Superstorm Sandy and the extra drainage work we decided to include into the project caused the short delay," he said. "The public needs to understand the utility work conducted under the bridge is a time-consuming process."

Though detour and road closure signs remained on Goffle Road and Godwin Avenue, motorists soon discovered by happenstance that the bridge was open.

"It has been a nightmare trying to get out of the Midland Park Shopping Center and turning left onto Goffle Road to go home," said Michelle Kurys of Wyckoff. "My daughter goes to Miss Patti's Dance School three times a week and I eventually decided to turn right out of the shopping center and take an alternate route home. It was dangerous to turn left."

Wyckoff resident Carol Francica was excited her evening ritual of picking up her husband five times a week at the Ridgewood train station would be shortened.

"I use the bridge as a shortcut to Ridgewood. For the last year, I needed to budget 20 minutes to get there and tonight it only took me 10 minutes," Francica said.

Midland Park police officials had reported morning and evening rush-hour congestion along Goffle Road and Godwin Avenue, including a pedestrian accident attributed to the closure.

Police Chief Michael Marra said he was "pleased" the bridge replacement project was completed.